123. The White Rong Invade: The Capital in Peril

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The Great Liang, Imperial Capital.

It was the hour of the sheep (1 p.m. to 3 p.m.). Normally at this time, court officials would either be working in their offices or would have already returned home. But today was different; the Qianqing Palace was filled to capacity, yet it remained deathly silent.

Thirty-four-year-old Emperor Tang Xu sat upright upon the dragon throne, gazing through the beaded curtain of his crown at the gathered ministers. His expression was solemn; no one could tell what he was thinking.

"Do you ministers have no other strategies besides increasing taxes?" A gentle voice emanated from the throne.

The few men standing in the front row lowered their heads in silence. None of the other officials dared to step forward to offer a rebuttal.

Tang Xu sighed inwardly.

He had originally been merely a prince, watching his father indulge in debauchery and his elder brother succumb to chronic illness. He had harbored great ambitions, yet the throne seemed forever out of reach. It was only through years of careful plotting that he had finally seen his efforts bear fruit and ascended to the throne.

Yet, just as he was filled with high aspirations and ready to display his grand vision, he discovered that the nation was already riddled with holes. The national treasury was so destitute that not even a mouse could survive within it. Knowing the Great Liang was in such a wretched state, what was the point of planning? Wouldn't it have been better to just be a carefree prince?

Not only was his father’s mausoleum incomplete, but his elder brother’s hadn't even begun construction. The two late emperors could only be kept in coffins in the West Side Hall, cooled daily with ice. But the ice was running out! Fortunately, winter was on the horizon.

Across the Great Liang, refugees were everywhere, uprisings were breaking out, and the borders were under constant pressure. Everywhere he looked, people were demanding money and grain. He wanted to achieve something, but everything required resources. Where were they to be found?

All morning, not a single official in the hall had offered a serious suggestion. It was nothing but talk of raising taxes. With refugees everywhere, they still wanted to raise taxes?

Tang Xu felt an unprecedented sense of exhaustion. The thrill of plotting for the empire in a secret chamber was gone, replaced by endless mental fatigue.

His usual tactics seemed ineffective in this court. Even a minor issue could lead to endless bickering that made his head ache. Nothing worked, and everything was a dead end. He wanted to drag every one of these sanctimonious hypocrites out and have them all beheaded.

Was he truly being forced to become a muddled monarch?

Everyone has multiple facets, and the Emperor was no exception. These decadent thoughts flashed through Tang Xu’s mind, unknown to the ministers in the hall. In the eyes of the officials and the common people, he remained the majestic sovereign seated high upon the throne.

"Your Majesty, I impeach the Chief Councilor, Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi, as the Chief Councilor, having served two late emperors, has allowed the state to fall into ruin, with civil unrest rising and the treasury empty..." While Tang Xu was lost in his thoughts, a man stepped out from the court and shouted.

Here we go again. Impeaching each other every single day? Are they so impatient? I’ve just ascended the throne, and they want to dismiss veteran officials? What would the world think of me?

But surely someone would come out to impeach Yuwen Yongjia?

"Your Majesty, I impeach the Minister of Revenue, Yuwen Yongjia. The Ministry of Revenue controls the nation’s wealth, yet the treasury is empty. Yuwen Yongjia cannot escape responsibility..."

Tang Xu sneered inwardly. There it was! Such grand dramas were performed every day.

"Your Majesty, I impeach the Secretariat Supervisor, Xiao Yi..."

"Your Majesty, I impeach the Minister of Revenue, Yuwen Yongjia..."

As the cries for impeachment rose and fell, the previously calm court instantly became chaotic.

"I am incompetent! I beg Your Majesty to punish me." As the accusations mounted, Xiao Yi and Yuwen Yongjia had no choice but to step forward and plead guilty.

They are indeed damn incompetent, especially this Yuwen Yongjia. The irony was that he had relied on this man as an insider to reach his current position.

"You two ministers served the late emperors; although you have faults, you have also rendered service. The state of affairs is dire, but the primary fault does not lie with you two. It is we, the Imperial House, who have failed the people. Please, focus on the affairs of the state." Tang Xu could only bite the bullet and offer comfort.

This was the stalemate between the aristocratic clans and the Imperial House. In the Ming and Qing dynasties of the world Lu Jin belonged to, such a statement from an emperor would be unimaginable.

If an emperor was dissatisfied with his ministers, he would simply dismiss them. But now, Tang Xu couldn't even do that, because he had only secured the throne through the support of the officials by projecting an image of "virtue."

After some soothing words, the ministers finally quieted down. But it wasn't over yet. Tang Xu signaled to the eunuch beside him.

"The Edict reads: ...Since ancient times, wise kings have relied on capable ministers to govern. From the Jin and Yan dynasties, there were the likes of Shao Weng and Zhou Chen; the Han had Shangguan Hong and Shen Fu. When a minister is upright, the sovereign is just, and the world is governed..." The eunuch’s voice echoed through the hall.

"Promote Secretariat Supervisor Xiao Yi to Duke of Chu, and add the title of Grand Preceptor..."

"Transfer Minister of Revenue Yuwen Yongjia to Secretariat Director, and promote him to Duke of Qin..."

"Transfer Minister of Rites Murong Shu to Attendant, and promote him to Duke of Yan..."

...

"Transfer Junior Vice Minister of Personnel Shen Rui to Minister of Revenue..."

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...

The appointments of the new emperor, which had been debated for days, were finally settled. Tang Xu took this opportunity to have the eunuch announce them to appease the ministers.

With the changes in positions, a new cabinet was born. Xiao Yi remained the Chief Councilor, Yuwen Yongjia and Murong Shu occupied the positions of Deputy Councilors as Secretariat Director and Attendant respectively, and Shen Rui entered the cabinet as the Minister of Revenue.

Unlike the nominal cabinets of the later Ming and Qing dynasties, the Great Liang’s cabinet was an institution of real power, composed of the heads of the Three Departments and the Six Ministries. It was the highest administrative organ and a fortress where the aristocratic families vied with imperial power.

The rewards for merit were distributed, but the problem remained: where was the money? Where was the grain? Now that they had what they wanted, shouldn't they start working?

"Your Majesty, I, Zhang Yan, have a memorial to present!" While Tang Xu was lost in thought, a man stepped out and shouted.

"Speak, Minister Zhang!" the Emperor’s voice replied.

"Your Majesty, the autumn grain is currently being collected, which may solve our immediate crisis. But to resolve the nation’s poverty and strengthen the country, I have ten proposals to present."

Tang Xu cursed inwardly. There are ten of them now? A moment ago, there wasn't even one!

"First: Loans from the people. The court shall borrow money and grain from the gentry, to be repaid with annual interest..."

"Second: Commercial taxation. The court shall collect a fixed tax based on the value of goods, with penalties for concealment and tax evasion..."

"Third: Leasing public land to the people. The imperial public fields and idle mountains shall be leased to refugees, along with loans for seeds and farming tools, to pacify the refugees in Pingjin, Linhai, and Jingdong..."

"Fourth: Selling titles for grain. Allow officials and commoners to donate money and grain in exchange for official ranks..."

"Fifth: Reminting currency. Ban private minting and consolidate it under the court..."

...

"Tenth: Monopoly on salt and liquor..."

As Tang Xu sat on the dragon throne, his expression became increasingly vivid. It seemed things were about to get lively.

As each proposal echoed through the Qianqing Palace, the ministers were stunned. Some items were acceptable, but others were digging at the roots of the aristocratic families. Where on earth did this dog, Zhang Yan, crawl out from?

"Zhang Yan, you dog! How can the court contend with the people for profit?" Before Zhang Yan could finish, a memorial was hurled at him, striking his forehead and drawing blood.

This angry roar served as a bugle call for battle. A wave of insults and attacks followed. The roaring was enough to lift the roof off the building.

"Your Majesty, Zhang Yan is a sycophant, harming the state and the people, and bewitching Your Majesty..."

"Zhang Yan, you brat, how dare you encourage His Majesty to sell offices? Do you want His Majesty to bear the infamy of the ages?..."

"Having read the books of sages in vain, we feel deeply ashamed..."

"Zhang Yan, I will kill you!"

"Silence!" Seeing the situation spiraling into chaos, the attendant eunuch shouted.

"You are all high-ranking officials of the court; how can you lose your decorum and speak so recklessly before the throne?" The Emperor’s voice was full of majesty.

"Your Majesty, it is not that we lack propriety, but that this scoundrel Zhang Yan is ruining the country. We study the teachings of the sages to assist a wise sovereign in governing the land. Yet this wretch stands before Your Majesty spouting nonsense and wicked theories to bewitch you. How can we stand by? We beg Your Majesty to punish Zhang Yan!"

"We beg Your Majesty to punish Zhang Yan!" Most of the officials bowed, demanding punishment.

Are they that desperate?

"Minister Xiao, what is your opinion?" Tang Xu looked at Xiao Yi, who remained standing.

"Your Majesty, although the Great Liang is generally stable, bandits are rampant, and disasters are frequent in some counties, leaving the people landless and without support. I fear Minister Zhang’s policies are too radical and will trigger greater turmoil. However, some of the proposals are worth discussing. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider!" Xiao Yi bowed.

"What about you, Minister Yuwen?" Tang Xu looked at Yuwen Yongjia. If he remembered correctly, this Zhang Yan was supposed to be his man.

"Your Majesty, I agree with Chief Councilor Xiao," Yuwen Yongjia bowed.

Just as the Emperor was about to speak, a eunuch rushed in from outside.

"Your Majesty, there is urgent military intelligence for the Ministry of War..." the eunuch knelt.

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The ministers grew tense. The new emperor had only been on the throne for a few days, and nothing was more feared than a sudden war.

Minister of War Yang Qingyuan snatched the report from the eunuch and began reading, ignoring etiquette in the face of the emergency.

As Yang Qingyuan read, cold sweat began to pour down his face.

"Your Majesty, the Governor of the North, Ye Mingcheng, reports that five days ago, the White Rong launched an army of 100,000 to attack Ningbian. The Ningbian Garrison Commander, Wu Sigui, defected to the enemy, opening the fortress gates to let the White Rong in. The Ningbian Governor, Qi Wei, has been killed. The White Rong forces have reached Fengzhou and are marching toward the capital!"

Before Yang Qingyuan could finish, the hall erupted in a roar of panic.

Tang Xu, seated on the dragon throne, gripped the armrests so hard his knuckles turned white. Those White Rong, they certainly knew how to pick their moment.

"Minister Yang, could this be a false report? It is already autumn; how could the White Rong possibly launch such an invasion?" someone among the ministers asked.

"How could an urgent military report be faked?" Yang Qingyuan raged.

"Minister Yang, what is your strategy?" The Emperor’s voice was as cold as ice.

"Your Majesty, the situation is critical. We must mobilize the national forces to deploy in Hedong and Yunzhong to prevent the White Rong from reaching the capital. We must order the Governor of the North to evacuate the people south of Daishan to prevent them from falling into enemy hands. Furthermore, we must order the Governors of Yanyun and Pingxia to attack the White Rong from both sides to force them to retreat."

"But the treasury is empty..." Yang Qingyuan hesitated. This wasn't a problem he could solve—without money or grain, who would fight?

"Minister Xiao, what is your strategy?" The Emperor looked at Xiao Yi.

"Your Majesty, although the nation is in peril, the White Rong are deep in our territory and winter is approaching. As long as we employ a scorched-earth policy, the White Rong cannot hold out for long. Minister Yang’s strategy is prudent and can be used. As for money and grain, we can order local governments to hand over autumn grain to local military stations, and have those forces bring the grain to aid the capital. Furthermore, I believe... the first four items of Zhang Yan’s proposals can be implemented!" Xiao Yi bowed, remaining down for a long time. In that moment, he felt he had aged ten years.

"Impossible, Your Majesty! Zhang Yan’s policies will shake the foundations of the state..."

"Xiao Yi, you old thief! The late emperor entrusted the state to you; how can you disregard his grace?"

"Old man Xiao, how can you face the late emperor? You are a sycophant for the ages..."

"Xiao Yi, you encouraged His Majesty to sell offices. You have lived sixty-three years in vain..."

"Your Majesty, Xiao Yi is bewitching the people. We beg Your Majesty to hunt in the south and consider other plans..."

"Xiao Yi, I will kill you!"

Tang Xu had already stood up, turning to face the ministers, his face flushed with anger. Is it true that I did not inherit the throne legitimately? Does Heaven wish to treat me this way?

"My mind is made up. The state is in danger, and I adopt the strategies of Minister Xiao and Minister Yang. I ask the cabinet to coordinate with the various departments to finalize Zhang Yan’s proposals and deploy the money, grain, and troops. I also ask you, my ministers, to work together to resist the foreign enemy."

"Transfer Zhang Yan to Junior Minister of the Court of Agriculture to oversee his proposals!"

"Order the Ministry of Justice to capture the traitor Wu Sigui’s kin, throw them into prison, and execute his entire clan!"

"Appoint Shangguan Fu as the Great General of the North to oversee the capital's northern defenses." The Emperor finally made his decision; he had no room left to reconsider.

"Your Majesty, this must not be! How can you ruin the ancestral state?"

"We beg Your Majesty to withdraw this order!"

"We beg Your Majesty to withdraw this order!" More and more ministers begged the Emperor to rescind his decision.

"This won't do, that won't do—do you ministers intend to deliver my head to the White Rong?" the Emperor demanded sharply.

"Your Majesty, what do you mean by that? As the one who carries the hopes of the world, you should be cautious in word and deed. How can you cast your ministers into the role of the disloyal?"

The ministers were in an uproar, standing with stiff necks, questioning the Emperor to his face.

"..." Tang Xu squeezed his hands until they almost bled.

"Dismiss the court!" Tang Xu’s face was as dark as iron.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"